Apparatus and method to sense and subscribe to presence information

Abstract

A system and method to provide a presence user agent ( 207 ) capable of receiving tag identifiers from a tagging sensor ( 205 ) and possibly tag statuses. The presence user agent ( 207 ) may send the tag identifier, tagging sensor identifier, and other associated data to a Session Initiation Protocol Presence Server ( 201 ). SIP Presence Server ( 201 ) may send a message based on the tag identifier and tagging sensor identifier to a requesting entity ( 211 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for communicating presence information to a subscriber comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a register message having a presence comprising at least one first portion and at least one second portion;    receiving a subscribe message having at least one criterion;    matching the at least one criterion to the presence; and    transmitting a notify message having the at least one first portion to the subscriber.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises at least one tag portion.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one criterion comprises at least one tag criterion and at least one tagging sensor criterion.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of receiving a register message comprises: 
 receiving the register message at a first domain, the register message originating from a second domain.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the register message comprises at least one session initiation protocol field.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the register message comprises a domain.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of transmitting a notify message comprises transmitting a notify message having session initiation protocol fields.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the tag criterion comprises at least one wildcard.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the tagging sensor criterion comprises at least one character representing at least one non-wildcard character.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one wildcard comprises a range designation.  
     
     
         11 . A presence server for communicating presence information to a subscriber comprising: 
 a means for receiving a register message having a presence comprising at least one first portion and at least one second portion;    a means for receiving a subscribe message having at least one criterion;    a means for matching the at least one criterion to the presence; and    a means for transmitting a notify message having the at least one first portion to the subscriber.    
     
     
         12 . The presence server of  claim 11  wherein the first portion comprises at least one tag portion.  
     
     
         13 . The presence server of  claim 12  wherein the at least one criterion comprises at least one tag criterion and at least one tagging sensor criterion.  
     
     
         14 . The presence server of  claim 13  wherein the means for receiving a register message comprises: 
 receiving the register message at a first domain, the register message originating from a second domain.  
 
     
     
         15 . The presence server of  claim 13  wherein the register message comprises at least one session initiation protocol field.  
     
     
         16 . The presence server of  claim 13  wherein the register message comprises a domain.  
     
     
         17 . The presence server of  claim 13  wherein the means for transmitting a notify message comprises a means for transmitting a notify message having session initiation protocol fields.  
     
     
         18 . The presence server of  claim 17  wherein the tag criterion comprises at least one wildcard.  
     
     
         19 . The presence server of  claim 17  wherein the tagging sensor criterion comprises at least one character representing at least one non-wildcard character.  
     
     
         20 . The presence server of  claim 19  wherein the at least one wildcard comprises a range designation.  
     
     
         21 . A method for reporting location of a tag having a tag identifier near a sensor having a unique identifier among sensors in a first domain comprising: 
 receiving the tag identifier;    transmitting the tag identifier and the unique identifier to a network node.    
     
     
         22 . The method for reporting location of  claim 21  wherein the step of transmitting the tag identifier comprises: 
 transmitting the tag identifier, and the unique identifier to a network node in a second domain.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method for reporting location of  claim 22  wherein the step of transmitting the tag identifier further comprises: 
 transmitting a packet having at least one session initiation protocol field.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising concatenating the tag identifier with the unique identifier.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  where the step of transmitting the tag further comprises addressing the packet to the subscription network center.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the message comprises a status.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the status comprises moving.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of receiving the tag identifier further comprises wirelessly reading the tag.